A MAN was left with two air rifle pellets embedded in his head following a robbery in Southampton city centre, a court heard.

Two men had been enjoying a night out drinking in Southampton when they were attacked in Old Northam Road on their walk home.

One was left with pellets lodged behind his jaw and ear - too dangerous for surgeons to remove.

The other suffered a fractured finger.

Their attackers walked free from Southampton Crown Court earlier this week laughing and joking with smiles on their faces.

CCTV footage played during a previous hearing showed a Ford Cortina being driven around parts of Southampton city centre by one of the defendants shortly before the violent assault.

At one point during the clip, a figure can be seen leaning out of a car window with what the Crown Prosecution Service say was an air rifle.

The court heard how one of the victims thought he had been hit with a bottle - however, evidence suggests he was actually hit with a wheel lock later found in the Cortina.

Three Southampton men were later arrested in connection with the attack.

Connor Haynes, 29, of Ashurst Close, Harry Goulding, 19, of Blackthorn Road and Shane Flanagan-Stansbridge, 19, of Bedford Place, stood before Southampton Crown Court to be sentenced.

All three were charged with wounding without intent, robbery and attempted robbery.

Meanwhile, Goulding was also charged with assault occasioning ABH.

They pleaded guilty to the offences committed on August 24, 2018.

Haynes - with no previous convictions - pleaded guilty on the basis he never left the Ford Cortina.

In mitigation it was put forward he was in the bottom 25 per cent of people intellectually.

At sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland called the incident a joint enterprise.

He took into consideration the age of the defendants at the time of the robbery and the impacts of a custodial sentence.

He jailed each defendant for two years, however, suspended their sentences for two years.

They must each complete a total of 270 hours of unpaid work.